By Jack Stevenson (Death & Co Denver, 2022)

Circuit Breaker

There’s a particular pleasure in building a stirred cocktail that hums just below the surface—quietly electric, balanced between brightness and burn. Circuit Breaker lives in that voltage: a fusion of earthy mezcal and barrel-aged cachaça that crackles with spice and wood. Nixta’s silky corn sweetness bridges the gap, while a touch of Cynar and Angostura ground everything in bittersweet depth. It’s a drink that glows from within, its quiet power building sip by sip.

1 ounce Legendario Domingo espadin mezcal
¾ ounce Avuá Amburana cachaça
½ ounce Nixta Licor de Elote corn liqueur
¼ ounce Cynar
1 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: 1 orange twist

Stir all the ingredients with ice, then strain into an old-fashioned glass over 1 large ice cube. Garnish with the orange twist.